diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-altera.c b/drivers/spi/spi-altera.c
index 9a64c3fee218..595b62cb545d 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-altera.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-altera.c
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static int altera_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, hw);
 
 	/* setup the state for the bitbang driver */
-	hw->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	hw->bitbang.master = master;
 	if (!hw->bitbang.master)
 		return err;
 	hw->bitbang.chipselect = altera_spi_chipsel;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-ath79.c b/drivers/spi/spi-ath79.c
index 37bad952ab38..821bf7ac218d 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-ath79.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-ath79.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ static int ath79_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		master->num_chipselect = pdata->num_chipselect;
 	}
 
-	sp->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	sp->bitbang.master = master;
 	sp->bitbang.chipselect = ath79_spi_chipselect;
 	sp->bitbang.txrx_word[SPI_MODE_0] = ath79_spi_txrx_mode0;
 	sp->bitbang.setup_transfer = spi_bitbang_setup_transfer;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-au1550.c b/drivers/spi/spi-au1550.c
index 1d00d9b397dd..e06400a3a719 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-au1550.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-au1550.c
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ static int au1550_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	hw = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
 
-	hw->master = spi_master_get(master);
+	hw->master = master;
 	hw->pdata = dev_get_platdata(&pdev->dev);
 	hw->dev = &pdev->dev;
 
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c b/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c
index 8c11355dec23..0056623dfc6b 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c
@@ -414,10 +414,16 @@ static int spi_bitbang_unprepare_hardware(struct spi_master *spi)
  * This routine registers the spi_master, which will process requests in a
  * dedicated task, keeping IRQs unblocked most of the time.  To stop
  * processing those requests, call spi_bitbang_stop().
+ *
+ * On success, this routine will take a reference to master. The caller is
+ * responsible for calling spi_bitbang_stop() to decrement the reference and
+ * spi_master_put() as counterpart of spi_alloc_master() to prevent a memory
+ * leak.
  */
 int spi_bitbang_start(struct spi_bitbang *bitbang)
 {
 	struct spi_master *master = bitbang->master;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!master || !bitbang->chipselect)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -449,7 +455,11 @@ int spi_bitbang_start(struct spi_bitbang *bitbang)
 	/* driver may get busy before register() returns, especially
 	 * if someone registered boardinfo for devices
 	 */
-	return spi_register_master(master);
+	ret = spi_register_master(spi_master_get(master));
+	if (ret)
+		spi_master_put(master);
+
+	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(spi_bitbang_start);
 
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-butterfly.c b/drivers/spi/spi-butterfly.c
index 5ed08e537433..b1ecea2d76b3 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-butterfly.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-butterfly.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static void butterfly_attach(struct parport *p)
 	master->bus_num = 42;
 	master->num_chipselect = 2;
 
-	pp->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	pp->bitbang.master = master;
 	pp->bitbang.chipselect = butterfly_chipselect;
 	pp->bitbang.txrx_word[SPI_MODE_0] = butterfly_txrx_word_mode0;
 
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-davinci.c b/drivers/spi/spi-davinci.c
index 8fbfe2483ffd..af2bb73d0168 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-davinci.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-davinci.c
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ static int davinci_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		goto unmap_io;
 
-	dspi->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	dspi->bitbang.master = master;
 	if (dspi->bitbang.master == NULL) {
 		ret = -ENODEV;
 		goto irq_free;
@@ -925,7 +925,7 @@ static int davinci_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	dspi->clk = clk_get(&pdev->dev, NULL);
 	if (IS_ERR(dspi->clk)) {
 		ret = -ENODEV;
-		goto put_master;
+		goto irq_free;
 	}
 	clk_prepare_enable(dspi->clk);
 
@@ -1015,8 +1015,6 @@ free_dma:
 free_clk:
 	clk_disable_unprepare(dspi->clk);
 	clk_put(dspi->clk);
-put_master:
-	spi_master_put(master);
 irq_free:
 	free_irq(dspi->irq, dspi);
 unmap_io:
@@ -1024,7 +1022,7 @@ unmap_io:
 release_region:
 	release_mem_region(dspi->pbase, resource_size(r));
 free_master:
-	kfree(master);
+	spi_master_put(master);
 err:
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1051,11 +1049,11 @@ static int davinci_spi_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	clk_disable_unprepare(dspi->clk);
 	clk_put(dspi->clk);
-	spi_master_put(master);
 	free_irq(dspi->irq, dspi);
 	iounmap(dspi->base);
 	r = platform_get_resource(pdev, IORESOURCE_MEM, 0);
 	release_mem_region(dspi->pbase, resource_size(r));
+	spi_master_put(master);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-efm32.c b/drivers/spi/spi-efm32.c
index 7d84418a01d8..d428a40778c1 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-efm32.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-efm32.c
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ static int efm32_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	ddata = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
 
-	ddata->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	ddata->bitbang.master = master;
 	ddata->bitbang.chipselect = efm32_spi_chipselect;
 	ddata->bitbang.setup_transfer = efm32_spi_setup_transfer;
 	ddata->bitbang.txrx_bufs = efm32_spi_txrx_bufs;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-fsl-dspi.c b/drivers/spi/spi-fsl-dspi.c
index 6cd07d13ecab..d338b6722255 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-fsl-dspi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-fsl-dspi.c
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ static int dspi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	dspi = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
 	dspi->pdev = pdev;
-	dspi->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	dspi->bitbang.master = master;
 	dspi->bitbang.chipselect = dspi_chipselect;
 	dspi->bitbang.setup_transfer = dspi_setup_transfer;
 	dspi->bitbang.txrx_bufs = dspi_txrx_transfer;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-gpio.c b/drivers/spi/spi-gpio.c
index 68b69fec13a9..14c01b44ca7a 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-gpio.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-gpio.c
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ static int spi_gpio_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	spi_gpio->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	spi_gpio->bitbang.master = master;
 	spi_gpio->bitbang.chipselect = spi_gpio_chipselect;
 
 	if ((master_flags & (SPI_MASTER_NO_TX | SPI_MASTER_NO_RX)) == 0) {
@@ -486,7 +486,6 @@ static int spi_gpio_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	status = spi_bitbang_start(&spi_gpio->bitbang);
 	if (status < 0) {
-		spi_master_put(spi_gpio->bitbang.master);
 gpio_free:
 		if (SPI_MISO_GPIO != SPI_GPIO_NO_MISO)
 			gpio_free(SPI_MISO_GPIO);
@@ -510,13 +509,13 @@ static int spi_gpio_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	/* stop() unregisters child devices too */
 	status = spi_bitbang_stop(&spi_gpio->bitbang);
-	spi_master_put(spi_gpio->bitbang.master);
 
 	if (SPI_MISO_GPIO != SPI_GPIO_NO_MISO)
 		gpio_free(SPI_MISO_GPIO);
 	if (SPI_MOSI_GPIO != SPI_GPIO_NO_MOSI)
 		gpio_free(SPI_MOSI_GPIO);
 	gpio_free(SPI_SCK_GPIO);
+	spi_master_put(spi_gpio->bitbang.master);
 
 	return status;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-imx.c b/drivers/spi/spi-imx.c
index 15323d8bd9cf..02d9f468b2b6 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-imx.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-imx.c
@@ -786,7 +786,7 @@ static int spi_imx_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	master->num_chipselect = num_cs;
 
 	spi_imx = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
-	spi_imx->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	spi_imx->bitbang.master = master;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < master->num_chipselect; i++) {
 		int cs_gpio = of_get_named_gpio(np, "cs-gpios", i);
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-lm70llp.c b/drivers/spi/spi-lm70llp.c
index 0759b5db9883..41c5765be746 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-lm70llp.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-lm70llp.c
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ static void spi_lm70llp_attach(struct parport *p)
 	/*
 	 * SPI and bitbang hookup.
 	 */
-	pp->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	pp->bitbang.master = master;
 	pp->bitbang.chipselect = lm70_chipselect;
 	pp->bitbang.txrx_word[SPI_MODE_0] = lm70_txrx;
 	pp->bitbang.flags = SPI_3WIRE;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-nuc900.c b/drivers/spi/spi-nuc900.c
index 47a68b43bcd5..e0c32bc69ee2 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-nuc900.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-nuc900.c
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ static int nuc900_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 
 	hw = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
-	hw->master = spi_master_get(master);
+	hw->master = master;
 	hw->pdata  = dev_get_platdata(&pdev->dev);
 	hw->dev = &pdev->dev;
 
@@ -435,7 +435,6 @@ err_iomap:
 	kfree(hw->ioarea);
 err_pdata:
 	spi_master_put(hw->master);
-
 err_nomem:
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-oc-tiny.c b/drivers/spi/spi-oc-tiny.c
index 333cb1badcd7..91c668596202 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-oc-tiny.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-oc-tiny.c
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ static int tiny_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, hw);
 
 	/* setup the state for the bitbang driver */
-	hw->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	hw->bitbang.master = master;
 	if (!hw->bitbang.master)
 		return err;
 	hw->bitbang.setup_transfer = tiny_spi_setup_transfer;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c b/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c
index 0ee53c25ba58..c57740bb70d3 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-ppc4xx.c
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ static int spi_ppc4xx_of_probe(struct platform_device *op)
 	master->dev.of_node = np;
 	platform_set_drvdata(op, master);
 	hw = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
-	hw->master = spi_master_get(master);
+	hw->master = master;
 	hw->dev = dev;
 
 	init_completion(&hw->done);
@@ -558,6 +558,7 @@ static int spi_ppc4xx_of_remove(struct platform_device *op)
 	free_irq(hw->irqnum, hw);
 	iounmap(hw->regs);
 	free_gpios(hw);
+	spi_master_put(master);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-s3c24xx.c b/drivers/spi/spi-s3c24xx.c
index ce318d95a6ee..c9cfdfaf7523 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-s3c24xx.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-s3c24xx.c
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ static int s3c24xx_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	hw = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
 	memset(hw, 0, sizeof(struct s3c24xx_spi));
 
-	hw->master = spi_master_get(master);
+	hw->master = master;
 	hw->pdata = pdata = dev_get_platdata(&pdev->dev);
 	hw->dev = &pdev->dev;
 
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-sh-sci.c b/drivers/spi/spi-sh-sci.c
index 8eefeb6007df..38eb24df796c 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-sh-sci.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-sh-sci.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ static int sh_sci_spi_probe(struct platform_device *dev)
 	sp->info = dev_get_platdata(&dev->dev);
 
 	/* setup spi bitbang adaptor */
-	sp->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	sp->bitbang.master = master;
 	sp->bitbang.master->bus_num = sp->info->bus_num;
 	sp->bitbang.master->num_chipselect = sp->info->num_chipselect;
 	sp->bitbang.chipselect = sh_sci_spi_chipselect;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-sirf.c b/drivers/spi/spi-sirf.c
index a1f21b747733..592b4aff651f 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-sirf.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-sirf.c
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ static int spi_sirfsoc_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret)
 		goto free_master;
 
-	sspi->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	sspi->bitbang.master = master;
 	sspi->bitbang.chipselect = spi_sirfsoc_chipselect;
 	sspi->bitbang.setup_transfer = spi_sirfsoc_setup_transfer;
 	sspi->bitbang.txrx_bufs = spi_sirfsoc_transfer;
diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-xilinx.c b/drivers/spi/spi-xilinx.c
index 0bf1b2c457a1..ec3a83f52ea2 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-xilinx.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-xilinx.c
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ static int xilinx_spi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	master->mode_bits = SPI_CPOL | SPI_CPHA;
 
 	xspi = spi_master_get_devdata(master);
-	xspi->bitbang.master = spi_master_get(master);
+	xspi->bitbang.master = master;
 	xspi->bitbang.chipselect = xilinx_spi_chipselect;
 	xspi->bitbang.setup_transfer = xilinx_spi_setup_transfer;
 	xspi->bitbang.txrx_bufs = xilinx_spi_txrx_bufs;